How is your company responding to the push — especially by the Navy — for open architecture (OA) and
reduction of proprietary software architecture?
HAVENSTEIN: We are supportive of an open architecture approach because it allows our customers to
leverage development investment across multiple platforms. As a capability integrator, we believe open
architecture is the best way to maximize the use of
components and systems across multiple applications.
ALBAUGH: In contrast to proprietary architectures,
open architectures allow for the sharing of information
and interoperability. In the area of platforms, Boeing is
working with the Navy to create an open architecture
that allows F/A-18s to seamlessly interoperate with the
Global Information Grid. Boeing is also working with
the best of industry to further address Navy requirements in ways that will provide for better information
sharing, rapid technology insertion and lower life-cycle costs at the same time.
LOCKHEED MARTIN
ROBERT J. STEVENS, CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT
AND CEO OF LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP.
STEVENS: We are the principal architects of the U.S.
Navy’s Acoustic Rapid COTS [commercial, off-the-shelf]
Insertion Program, providing open software upgrades to
every U.S. Navy submarine’s sonar system. We then took
that same discipline and philosophy into our Aegis
weapon system, resulting in the first cruiser being converted this year to a totally open combat system architecture.
“There is no formula for achieving
‘faster, better and cheaper’ on one
program. History indicates that no
SUGAR: Northrop Grumman fully supports the
Navy and Department of Defense in the migration of
modular open systems and an open architecture
approach for system development. Through corporate
investment, we have initiated efforts to develop overarching guidance in the design and development of
systems that are open-architecture conformant and
support the DoD’s vision of these principles. We are
also evaluating our business model to ensure delivery
of non-proprietary, open architectures that facilitate
rapid capability insertion while still ensuring maximum return on investment for our shareholders.
For example: Northrop Grumman Mission Systems
has teamed with Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding to
build an Advanced Technology Integration Lab at the
Mission Systems facilities in Dahlgren, Va. This facility
will demonstrate Northrop Grumman capabilities to conduct open architecture both in the functional and physical aspects. Shipbuilding has outfitted the lab with its
flexible infrastructure developed for the CVN 78 Aircraft
Carrier Program that provides the opportunity to physically reconfigure the space without “hot-work” (
welding). Mission Systems has installed the computing environment to enable software functional reconfiguration.
more than two of the three are
possible in any given product devel-
opment, not all three together.”
SMITH: We have embraced the move to OA in our
currently fielded and future programs. This is a cultural change we have adopted to reduce total ownership
costs while increasing the abilities of our industrial
base, particularly our participation with small business
via our own OpenAIR business model.
The Navy of the future requires systems that expand
operational flexibility, deliver maximum lethality when
required, and support highly integrated operations
within and across the joint battlespace. Achieving this
level of integration starts with open systems — systems
that are scalable, from the smallest ship or stealthiest
submarine to the largest aircraft carrier.
The Zumwalt-class destroyer, LPD 17 shipboard wide
area network, Ship Self Defense System, Virginia-class
